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What was once considered standard fare attached to the sides of a long list of Ford cars, trucks, and SUVs has recently disappeared. The user-friendly security option known as SecuriCode, which uses a small keypad placed on the outside of the vehicle’s door for keyless entry duties, has curiously been dropped from Ford’s line-up, reports Ford Authority.

The latest victim of the change is the Ford F-150 line, a vehicle that held on to the security feature as part of its model refresh which hit showrooms earlier this year, but that won’t include the keypad for the 2025 model year. It’s a trend that continues with Ford’s current vehicle line as the previously standard affair is becoming a dealer-installed option, and it isn’t cheap.

A Ford Staple Since The 1980s

The SecuriCode system is a lifesaver for some and a quirky, unnecessary extra for others. It’s based on a simple five-button keypad that was originally comprised of raised, physical keys, though, in more recent years, flat, touchpad-style buttons have been used. Each button contains two numbers and the user creates their own five-digit code that will enable access to the cabin without the use of a key or key fob.

The SecuriCode system debuted in 1980 and was initially used on cars like the Lincoln Continental and Town Car, Ford Thunderbird, and Mercury Cougar. It later became commonplace throughout the Blue Oval lineup. While some trims were fitted with the system as a standard item, models that weren’t already equipped could be converted as a dealer option at an affordable cost. Acknowledging its importance, Ford established a patent on SecuriCode in 1999.

The Cost Of User-Friendly Security

The F-150 losing the keypad as a standard option is the latest in a string of other Ford models that have already moved away from it. The 2023 Maverick (XLT and Lariat) used SecuriCode, but 2024 models do not. The same goes for the Bronco Sport and Escape, and even the 2025 Explorer will no longer include the feature. To note, all of these vehicles can be equipped with SecuriCode through a Ford dealer, but the cost for the F-150 is $455 to complete. On a fully loaded 2024 Maverick, the SecruiCode keypad is listed at $195.

Perhaps a lack of use is pushing Ford to pull back on the security system, but if many owners rave about the convenience of the feature that’s accompanied Ford vehicles for so many years. Based on today’s keyless entry fobs and the growing number of phone apps that have taken over the automotive world, a physical keypad on the side of a vehicle might seem useless to some, but it’s ideal for others. Take, for instance, a surfer, who, instead of tossing their keys, phone, and wallet inside a shirt and leaving them on the beach for unsavory characters to snatch, instead leaves their valuables locked inside their F-150 which they’ll access later via the keypad. The same goes for hikers, mountain bikers, joggers, and so on. CarBuzz has reached out to Ford for comment and will update this article once a response is received.

Source:
Ford Authority